For Her Protection-An Alpha Romance(18)

Taking her hadn't quelled his desire for her, only hooked him on her sensuous brand of love.

This created a problem. Because now sex wasn't enough. He wanted all of  her-every single stubborn, sexy bit. Yeah, he wanted to fuck her in the  worst way, in every place a woman could be fucked. No barriers, no  limits, he'd take everything. But worse he wanted her close-only a  breath away from him. Not to protect her, but because he craved her  presence, because now something deeper tethered him to her.

She snuggled closer and her soft breast grazed his chest. He ignored the  way his cock, still buried in her, stirred. Having her again so soon  would only hurt her. He smiled into her hair.

He'd give her a few hours.

Charlie lifted her head and gazed at him. Her eyes hit him like they did  that first time, warm and golden, but this time they were truly open.

He smiled and touched her chin dimple with his thumb. She smiled back, a  fucking sweet smile that winded him. She looked as if she'd lost five  years … so damn young and pretty.

But then he knew this would happen, knew she'd be sugar underneath all  her resistance. And that hidden sweetness had turned the dirtiest  fucking of his life into the most intimate.

"I've been wondering … ," she said, her smile twisting mischievously. "What would you have done if I'd demanded to be in control?"

Connor raised a brow but couldn't help mirroring her grin. "I'd have let you think you were."

"So you'd have done whatever I said?" She trailed her fingers over his  shoulder and tilted her face, looking up at him from under lowered  lashes.

He caught her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, nipping the tip  of one. "Did it look like I have a problem eating pussy?"

Charlie tugged her hand away and slapped his arm gently. "Is that as creative as you think I am?"

Connor chuckled and shrugged. Fuck no, but teasing her was too fun to resist.

She looked at him all big eyed and innocent. "How do you know I wouldn't have rimmed your ass?"

Connor's jaw slacked. The cheeky little minx. Like hell she'd touch his ass but if that's how she wanted to play it …

He grabbed the thigh still tucked over his hip and rolled onto her. His  cock had been hard again before he'd rolled them, now there was no  suppressing his renewed hunger. He slid his hand between their joined  bodies and cupped her ass. Her sweet, round ass.

"Did you like that, baby? Is that what you want-more ass play?"

He looked down at her. Her mouth opened slightly, wild strands of hair  escaped her braid, her cheeks red, her eyes wide. Something in her  expression stopped him. Not the hint of embarrassment but rather the way  her features softened.         

     



 

He swallowed, sensing something that hadn't been there before. A hint of  vulnerability that told him they weren't playing anymore.

Their first time had been like a dare-this was real. Just him and her,  nothing else. And it fucking took him apart. He couldn't help kissing  those lips, breathing in her sweet breath.

He kissed her gently, touched her cheeks, her hair, felt the pulse in  her neck with his stroking thumb. He pushed into her, held her close,  whispered things he barely understood. Not fucking, he finally  understood what it really meant to make love. When she came, she looked  like a fucking angel. He soaked in her beauty, her joy, and it pushed  him to the edge.

And sent him freefalling.





EIGHT


She took her time in the shower, ran her hands over her body. Her flesh  felt different. Reddened patches dotted her skin. Connor's stubble had  left his brand on her. Charlie slipped a soapy hand between her legs and  sucked in a hissing breath. Her privates were deliciously tender.

Satisfyingly sore.

Not that the soreness would stop her if he walked in and took her  against the shower wall. She tilted back her face and let the warm water  cascade over her skin. He hadn't joined her. Maybe he thought she'd had  enough. He'd asked after that second time if she was okay. If he'd hurt  her.

Odd since he'd been so tender. So tender she could barely look at him  afterwards. Her skin warmed from more than hot water. How would she face  him?

She was naked to him now …

They should have stopped after that first time. Now it was too late.  She'd never have enough. She'd be like a kid, gorging herself on candy  until she spewed. Because no matter how yummy, too much of a good thing  was bad for you.

And Connor was the worst, most addictive, and most hazardous kind of treat.

She finished her shower and dressed in a work skirt and blouse, then  found Connor in the kitchen. The sight of him freshened up, stark white  shirt hugging muscles she could still feel above her, made her want to  run back to her room. But she swallowed, stepped forward and slipped  into cooler, more collected headspace.

"You ready to get to work?"

Connor leaned against her counter, one leg crossed over the other. "If you're up for it."

His gaze wracked over her and this time she knew he pictured everything  he's seen underneath her clothes. Her chest unclenched under a flood of  warmth. Today hadn't been a onetime thing-he planned on more.

He looked at her as if it was all he could do to hold himself back from  going for round three. She'd never felt as sexy as she did when she  walked into a space and he looked at her.

She'd never been so afraid to be wrong about someone.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Thought you might need to recover." His lip curled a little, a hint of smug under his usually stoic façade.

"Oh, honey." She smiled broadly, and stepped a little closer. "If two  rounds is too much for you, next time I'll take it easy on you."

He reached out and grabbed her hips, his nostrils flaring. "Would you like me to show you how much I can take?"

She pressed her palm flat on his chest. His heart thumped under her  hand. How much he could take. Her body reacted-her pulse tripled.

He was easy to rile, and easier to dare.

And the results were so freaking exciting.

"What I'd like you to do is get me to work before everyone notices I'm gone." She patted him, and bat her eyes softly.

His chest rose and fell. His fingers tightened on her hips.

Did he really want her as much as he acted like he did?

He chuckled softly. "We better get going then, your wantonness has cost you the morning."

"My wantonness?"

She stepped back as he moved around her for his keys with a look that  suggested she'd reacted to his statement exactly as he'd wanted her to.  Bastard loved riling her up just as much. She grabbed her handbag and  jacket and followed him out his car.

Pity she loved letting him.



They arrived at the Halifax building.

"We'll go in the rear exit." Connor locked his car.

Charlie nodded. As much as she didn't enjoy hiding, she enjoyed getting things thrown at her less.

An engine roared behind them. Conner yanked her back, shoving her behind  him. Her back slammed into his car door. A black sports car swung into a  parking spot across from them.

"It's okay. He just drove in a little fast." She stroked Connor's  shoulder, her mind flashing to that first day when he'd caught the front  of a car to save her like a superhero. This time it wasn't just  gratitude and awe her chest flooded with, but something that made her  want to wrap her arms around him and hold on tight.         

     



 

Something that made her want to cry.

Because right then, reminded how he'd risked himself to save her, she  saw just how dangerous it was to fool around with one's bodyguard.

How easily protectiveness could be mistaken for affection.

He stepped aside, and took her arm, his whole body still on edge.

How easily duty could be mistaken for care.

She needed to be careful with him. Her lungs went tight. There was  nothing she could tell herself that could convince her it wasn't already  too late for that.

He led her across the car park. The door of the offending vehicle  opened. Connor's free hand ducked out, and caught the back of a collar.

He slammed the driver against the car.

The stricken face of Neil, Production Manager and Halifax board member, stared at them.

"What's going on?" His hands flew up.

"You could have run her down-"

"It's okay." She grabbed Connor's arm, and eased it down. "Neil this is  Connor Crowe, he's in charge of my personal security, and he was right,  that was no way to drive into a parking lot."

Connor may have released Neil, but he remained in front of him,  intimidating as hell, probably sending the usually harmless guy she knew  into near cardiac arrest.

"I'm sorry." Neil focused on her. "I wasn't carful. It won't happen again."

"I hope not." She studied the father of two, who she'd known since he  began here, ten years ago. She'd been to his wedding and his kid's  baptisms. Her gaze flicked to the door still open next to them.

What happened to the SUV he usually drove?

"You have a new car?"

Neil gaze flicked to the car and he slid sideways, then shut the door. "Yeah, got it last week."